Overview
Rattlesnake Creek Trail is the closest thing Missoula has to a commute trail. The trailhead at the end of Van Buren Street is 10 minutes from downtown, and the trail runs directly into the Rattlesnake Wilderness, a 33,000-acre designated wilderness that begins at the city's northern edge. This geographic fact makes the Lolo National Forest and the Rattlesnake uniquely accessible: you can step from a residential neighborhood into legitimate wilderness in a single walk.
The trail follows Rattlesnake Creek through a forested drainage in Montana's Clark Fork watershed, gaining 700 feet over 3.2 miles to a conventional turnaround where the drainage widens and views open. The lower section, within the National Recreation Area, permits mountain bikes. At the wilderness boundary the trail becomes foot-and-horse-only. The creek itself is one of the cleanest mountain streams near any American city, supporting a native westslope cutthroat population in the wilderness section.
The Route
Trailhead and Lower NRA (0 to 1.5 miles)
From the large trailhead parking area, the trail follows a wide, well-maintained path alongside Rattlesnake Creek. The lower section accommodates both hikers and mountain bikers and sees the most traffic of any point on the trail. The forest here is mixed conifer with significant ponderosa and Douglas fir, and the creek is accessible from multiple points. Cell service fades within the first half mile.
Wilderness Boundary and Upper Creek (1.5 to 2.5 miles)
The wilderness boundary is well-signed. Past the boundary, the trail narrows to a single-track foot path and the atmosphere shifts. Bike traffic disappears, the forest grows denser, and the creek becomes quieter. The trail climbs more steadily through this section alongside a series of small pools and riffles. Old-growth timber is more abundant past the wilderness boundary.
Upper Drainage (2.5 to 3.2 miles)
The canyon opens slightly as the trail approaches the 3-mile mark, with views of the surrounding forested ridges. The drainage widens here and a small bench area serves as the conventional day-hike turnaround. Backpackers continuing deeper into the wilderness can extend the trip significantly via the trail network inside the wilderness boundary.
Return (3.2 to 6.4 miles)
The return follows the same route back. Afternoon light filters through the canopy differently on the return trip, and wildlife activity increases in the evening hours near the upper creek.
When to Hike
April through November covers the accessible season, with the lower trail walkable in early April most years. Snow is rare below 4,500 feet in this drainage, and even light snow events are short-lived near Missoula.
Year-round access is common for fit hikers in most winters, as the low elevation and proximity to Missoula's warmer urban climate keep the trail largely clear.
Summer weekends bring the most crowd pressure at the trailhead. Arriving before 9 a.m. or on weekday mornings significantly improves parking and solitude.
What to Bring
Many hikers carry a liter of water for this shorter route, using the creek as a filter-supplemented source. The trail is gentle enough that water demand is lower than on more demanding hikes. Sunscreen helps in the open lower sections near the trailhead.
Bear spray is a good practice in the upper sections, where black bears are resident in the drainage. The proximity to the city does not mean this trail is wildlife-free: deer, black bears, and occasionally moose are seen in the wilderness section.
Trailhead Access
The Rattlesnake Trailhead is at the north end of Van Buren Street NE in Missoula. The access road is paved and the parking lot is one of the larger ones in the forest's front-country system, with flush restrooms available at the trailhead. No permit or fee is required (as of 2026). The trailhead is accessible by bicycle from downtown Missoula via the Rattlesnake Drive corridor.
Dogs are welcome. Keep dogs leashed in the wilderness section in respect for wildlife and other users.
Nearby
Rattlesnake Creek Trail connects to an extensive trail network inside the Rattlesnake Wilderness for those interested in multi-day trips. Stuart Peak Trail is the front-range summit option for those ready for a more demanding outing. Pattee Canyon Trail and Sheriffs Flat Loop are other Missoula-adjacent options in the Lolo.
Check current trail conditions and wilderness fishing regulations using the USFS conditions guide. Follow Leave No Trace principles especially in the high-traffic lower section where trail degradation is an ongoing management concern.